Wegovy, a weight-loss drug developed by Novo Nordisk, has been approved by China’s health authorities in June and has been launched in the country.
It is expected to raise competition with Eli Lilly, which has a weight loss treatment in its portfolio that received approval months ago but has not yet hit the shelves of the world’s second largest pharma market. Currently, there are 1.4 billion people in China, and 180 million of those are struggling with obesity.
The Chinese business news website Yicai reported that a dose of four Wegovy injections will cost 1,400 yuan ($194, £153), which is significantly cheaper than the drug’s price in the United States.
According to the report by Yicai, patients in China will have to bear the full cost of the treatment since the drug has not been listed under the national health insurance. Studies show that patients who take Wegovy can achieve more than 10% weight loss.
In a post on Chinese app, WeChat, Novo Nordisk stated that its treatment “will offer a safe and effective solution to overweight and obese patients in China”.
Intended for individuals with significant obesity, Wegovy contains semaglutide – an active substance that regulates blood glucose levels, reduces hunger, and makes patients eat less. It is also the active ingredient in sister drug Ozempic, which is used to treat type 2 diabetes.
However, there are some side effects reported by some of the users as for example nausea and vomiting, and other studies reveal that patients regain weight after they stop taking the drug.
Wegovy became available in the US in 2021 and one month’s supply is now $1,349. Promoted through social media and with endorsements from celebrities such as Elon Musk, it has since been selling like hotcakes in pharmacies across the globe.
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has urged doctors to consider patients who may be abusing obesity injections including Wegovy.
This came after some people who were not overweight got sick after using the jabs for slimming purposes. Wegovy has made its manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, the most valuable company in Europe. It currently has a total market value of of more than $440bn.
